Cappings melter



Dec. 19 1922.

K. HAWKINS. CAPPINGS MELTER.

ED 0v 8. 1921,

Patented Dec. 19, rear.

entrain amass eant KENNITH HAWKINS, OF VTATEB TUVIN, WISCQNSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 G. B. LEV/IS COMPANY, OF WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

(ZAPIING-S IVTJELTIER.

Application filed November 8', 1921. Serial No. 513,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KENNITH HAwnINs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cappings Melters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a. new and improved cappings melter, such as is particularly adapted for use in connection with the uncapping of honey combs in the extraction and separation of the honey from the wax.

The general object of the invention is to provide means by which this process may be carried out uniformly rapidly and continuously so that the expense of the process will be reduced to a minimum and a superior product obtained.

More specifically, the object is to provide a free drainage for the honey as it is freed from the comb so that the same cannot become overheated while the cappings are being melted.

With the above and other minor objects in view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the improved cappings Inelter, substantially on the line 1--1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2- 2 of Figure l, and

Figure 3, is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates a frame structure which is provided with cross bars 6 for supporting the pan 7 above which is held the frame 8 containing the combs while the latter are being uncapped. An oil heater 9, or similar heating device, is disposed beneath the pan, the latter being provided with a double acketed bottom 10 which has a reservoir 11 at one end into which the liquid heating medium may be introduced upon removing the plug 12.

The bottom of the pan is provided with one or more gutters 13, and the adjacent portions of the bottomslope downwardly thereto, as seen at 14. The walls of these gutters are preferably formed integral with the pan bottom and are slightly inclined downwardly towards one end where a valved outlet 15 is provided through which the honey and melted wax may be drawn into a suitable receptacle. The gutters are made comparatively wide at the bottom with a narrow slot 16 communicating with the interior of the pan.

In the operation of my improved melter, the cappings fall from the combs, as they are uncapped, into the pan andthe honey and wax, as it is melted, will immediately drain into one of the gutters.

It will be seen, therefore, that no matter how many cappings may be piled up in the melter, no honey can be held back or become overheated and spoiled, since it will immediately drain into the gutter and thence be carried out through the outlet 15. The narrow slot 16 also prevents the cappings from falling into the gutter before they are melted and clogging the same.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, various modifications may be made in certain structural details within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 7

1. A device of the character described comprising a pan having a double jacketed closed bottom for receiving a liquid heating medium, means for supporting the combs above the pan while they are uncapped, the bottom of said pan haying a longitudinal gutter formed therein, and being inclined downwardly from each side towards said gutter, the gutter itself being longitudinally inclined and an outlet at the lower end of the gutter through which the melted wax and honey may be withdrawn.

2. A device of the character described I wide bottoom which is formed integral with Wisconsin. the pan bottom, the bottom of said-gutter comprising a pan, means ;for uniformly being longitudinally inclined and having an heating the contents thereof, the bottom of outlet at its lower end through which the the pan having a narrow slot extending melted wax and honey may be withdrawn. throughout its length, towards which the In testimony that I claim the foregoing bottom slopes from each side thereof, a gut- I have hereunto set my hand at Watertown, ter below said slot having a comparatively in the county of Jefierson, and State of KENNITH HAWKINS. 

